CONTARDI
Contardi calls itself the “Couturier of Light,” and the phrase is earned: this is Italian lighting built the way tailoring is done, with fabric shades, finished metals, and a catalog that moves easily between homes, hotels, and yachts. BeDESIGN carries Contardi in Houston, Texas.
About Contardi
Contardi's roots go back to a late-1970s workshop in the Brianza district north of Milan, where founder Michele Carcano did precision prototyping for some of the great names of Italian lighting, including Stilnovo. The company he built remained a manufacturer behind the scenes for decades. In 2006, under his heirs Achille and Paola Carcano, Contardi launched its own brand, bringing that manufacturing depth with it.
The company still designs and produces in Brianza, Italy's furniture and lighting heartland. Its identity combines two things that rarely coexist: couture-level decorative work, tailored shades, hand-finished metals, and the technical discipline of a contract supplier. Alongside its home collections, Contardi runs a dedicated contract division producing bespoke lighting for hospitality projects; its custom fixtures light the rooms and suites of the Hôtel Lutetia in Paris, developed with Wilmotte & Associés.
The designers
Artistic director Massimiliano Raggi has shaped more than a dozen collections for the brand. Around him, Contardi has built a roster of contemporary studios: Servomuto designed Calypso, the art déco-inspired family of tailored shades named for Caribbean islands, produced in both indoor and weatherproof outdoor versions. Studiopepe's Stick won the Archiproducts Design Award for lighting in 2022. Recent seasons have added Hat by Paola Navone's OTTO Studio and Picchio by Alessandro Munge, both introduced in 2025.
What makes Contardi different
Most decorative lighting brands stop at the living room. Contardi's outdoor collections carry IP65 ratings, waterproof and fireproof fabrics, and marine-grade finishes developed for outdoor hospitality and yachts, which means the same tailored look can run from an interior to a covered terrace. In Houston, where outdoor living is a design brief of its own, that range matters. Portable, battery-powered pieces such as the Clara collection extend it further: light where there is no wiring at all.
Why Buy Contardi at BeDESIGN
BeDESIGN carries Contardi lighting in Houston, with custom quotes, trade pricing, and white-glove delivery throughout Texas. Contardi's catalog rewards specification: shade fabrics, finishes, indoor and outdoor versions, and our team helps homeowners, designers, and architects configure each piece for its space.
Visit our showroom to see Contardi's tailored approach firsthand. Every order is custom-quoted with your choice of finish and configuration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BeDESIGN carry Contardi in Houston?
Yes. BeDESIGN carries Contardi decorative lighting at our Houston showroom, with custom quotes and trade pricing across the indoor, outdoor, and portable collections.
What is Contardi best known for?
Contardi is known as the “Couturier of Light,” Italian decorative lighting with tailored fabric shades and finished metals, made in the Brianza district near Milan. Signature collections include Calypso by Servomuto and the award-winning Stick by Studiopepe.
Is Contardi lighting made in Italy?
Yes. Contardi designs and manufactures in Brianza, north of Milan, where the company began as a precision workshop in the late 1970s before launching its own brand in 2006.
Does Contardi make outdoor lighting?
Yes. Contardi’s outdoor collections are IP65-rated with waterproof, fireproof fabrics and marine-grade finishes, originally developed for hospitality and yacht projects. Several collections, including Calypso, exist in matching indoor and outdoor versions.
Does Contardi make portable, battery-powered lamps?
Yes. Collections such as Clara are available battery-powered, bringing tailored light to tables, terraces, and anywhere without wiring.
Can I see Contardi lighting in person in Houston?
Yes. BeDESIGN’s showroom at 2016 W Alabama St in Houston features Contardi lighting on display. Appointments are welcome but not required during regular hours.